InnovationScientists have developed miniature robots that can travel inside water pipes to detect and repair leaks, offering a groundbreaking solution to water wastage.
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Engineers from the University of Sheffield have developed a robot for inspecting water pipes and diagnosing cracks without digging.
These miniature robots, also known as Pipebhas, have helped save around three billion liters of water that could be otherwise lost due to pipe leakage.
The smallest crack has the ability to cause significant problems. And, with the UK’s underground infrastructure dating back to the Victorian era, cracks and faults have become common due to aging.
At present, the only way to fix broken pipes is to dig them up and locate the cracks in the maze of pipes. While it takes a long time to locate the issue, it also contributes to the £4 billion per year bill that the UK faces.
To tackle this issue, researchers from different universities have teamed up to build these Pipebots to do the job faster and save valuable money. They are equipped with tiny, high-spec acoustic sensors and cameras, which enable them to navigate and detect faults freely.
Without digging up roads or sidewalks, a swarm of Pipebots can be deployed directly into water pipes through a hydrant. An engineer lowers them in from a central hub, and the tiny robots get to work – patrolling the pipes, detecting faults, and sending real-time data back to the surface.
The Pipebots will avoid restricted areas and work collaboratively to clear areas quickly and efficiently. They are equipped with all-terrain legs that enable them to navigate through tough paths they may encounter underground.
In a statement, Professor Kirill Horoshenkov, programme director and Professor of Acoustics at Sheffield University, said: “Leaky water pipes are one of the biggest issues facing the water industry, not just here in the UK, but also globally as companies and governments grapple with ageing infrastructure.”
“Whilst pipe inspection technologies have improved, it is still incredibly difficult to monitor the condition of water pipes and find leaks in these vast networks, especially when the leaks are small,” he added.
“The Pipebots we have developed could revolutionize how we maintain our water infrastructure and significantly reduce the estimated three billion litres of water lost daily in England and Wales.”
1. With financial backing from the Office for Water Services (OFWAT), the Sheffield researchers are working on three projects alongside water companies and local authorities across the UK. These projects include:
2UKPipebots for Raising Mains – a project that inspects pressurized wastewater pipes while they’re still in use, helping teams plan repairs and prevent pollution.
3. No Dig Leak Repair – a project to develop technology to repair leaks from within live water mains without digging up roads, making repairs faster and less disruptive for everyone.
About eight years ago, scientists from MIT in the U.S. also built robots called PipeGuards to detect the same issues, albeit with a different working style.
The Sheffield team is also working on a European Union-funded project, called Pipeon, to develop advanced robotic and AI technologies that can be used for autonomous sewer inspection and maintenance.
Professor Horoshenkov also spoke highly about universities’ collaborative effort to solve this problem.
“The Pipebots project is a great example of the importance of collaboration between universities and industry,” he said.
“Our research has demonstrated how effective the technology can be, and partners from industry are helping us to make it relevant to the end-user needs, test, advance, and ultimately deploy it to help tackle a key challenge the water industry faces,” Professor Horoshenkov added.
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Source: Interesting Engineering
